18 injured, one dead

Protesters gathered behind barricades in the Musaga district throughout Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning.

Following an incident on Wednesday morning during which a army officer was hit in the chest by a round fired by police - an incident that could inflame tensions between different wings of the security forces - the police subsequently withdrew from the area, where the army was in charge of dispersing the protesters.

Protesters took a police vehicle, which had been entrusted to the army, leading both sides to agree on a "ceasefire" at around midday.

Later on in the afternoon, the army bowed to the pressure from the police and deserted Musaga district, leaving it in the hands of the police, whose presence grew in the neighbourhood after re-enforcement was called in.

At 5pm (local time), the Croix Rouge had been called to treat 14 injured on the ground, and transported another 6 in a critical state.

"The police were looking to penetrate in people's homes, there were a lot of gunshots fired in the evening and well into the night," a man from Musaga told IBTimes UK on Thursday morning (21 May). "This morning, we have been making an inventory of the damage committed by the police."

Soldiers clear a barricade during a protest in Musaga, in Burundi's capital Bujumbura on 20 MayReuters

The source, whose identity has been withheld, explained protesters in Musaga allegedly took five policemen hostage during the night, which they claim was to obtain negotiations.

"It was a way for them (protesters) to refuse that they were attacked until late at night. They just wanted the police to leave them alone."

IBTimes UK could not confirm these claims at the time of publication.

No access to victims, says Croix Rouge

Aid agency Croix Rouge spokesman, Alexis Manirakiza, confirmed there had been one death, but explained many more casualties could be expected.

After 5pm, Manirakiza explained, neither the Croix Rouge nor the journalists on the ground were able to penetrate inside of Musaga.

"We only know how many victims and injured there were up to 5pm. After that, we don't know about the evening cases," Manirakiza told IBTimes UK on Thursday morning. "We know that the violence continued in the commune of Musaga."

Journalists banned

A source in Musaga also told IBTimes UK that journalists had not been able to access some parts of the district, despite sustained gunfire being heard during the evening and into the night.

"Leave this place or we are going to shoot you with the protesters," Rolley reported the police as saying. She added an officer had told her: "If you don't go away, we will bury you".

Police officers have also forbidden the media from going through an area in the district, from which Rolley said she could hear bursts of machine gun fire.

"The operation is happening behind closed doors," she said.

The Croix Rouge on Thursday morning dispersed a team to Musaga, where it is hoping to help victims from the night's clashes, its spokesman said.

UPDATE:

(12:01am 21 May):

Eight people have been injured so far in the capital following the clashes on Thursday, and two people have been killed.

One man was killed in Musaga, the other perished in Ngagara (near the Parliament), aid agency Croix Rouge spokesman, Alexis Manirakiza confirmed.

He added there was no further information regarding Wednesday night's victim in Musaga, "because the area was inaccessible".

(11:00am 21 May):

One man was killed in front of the Parliamentbuilding in Ngagara in the centre of Bujumbura.

Protesters told IBTimes UK the man had been killed by shots fired by members of the Presidential Guard (Agents de Protection des Institutions, API) "for distributing water to protesters".

He suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Meanwhile, the Presidency posted a picture of the new cabinet.

More to follow...

(10:12am 21 May):

Protesters have now left the centre of town, after having been met by police, a source said.

Between 300 and 400 people had moved into the capital's centre but then scattered away, the source, who is currently hiding in the town centre, said.

Meanwhile, police has asked a number of shops to close, as they claim clients could be some of the women's groups protesters.

According to Sonia Rolley of RFI, police officers have thrown tear gas canisters on another group of women in front of a shop on the Place de l'Independance, in the town's centre.

(9:34am 21 May):

Groups of protesters have moved into the centre of town.

Protesters near the Bancobu (Banque Commerciale du Burundi) in the centre of town in Bujumbura Igor Ndarison

Gunfire was heard at Kigobe district in Bujumbura near the country's Parliament, where new ministers are taking oath, witnesses have said.

Following a cabinet reshuffle on 18 May, President Nkurunziza signed a decree to appoint three new ministers, including Alain Aime Nyamitwe - the brothers of Nkurunziza's adviser, Willy Nyamitwe - who was appointed as the new External Relations and International Cooperation Minister, replacing Laurent Kavakure.

Emmanuel Ntahomvukiye, a civilian, also became the new Defense and War Veterans Minister, replacing Major General Pontien Gaciyubwenge.